The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-03-17
A hlNDRANCE.
How . True Man and Christian IL Obliged
to Full Against His Inclinstion Toward
His Duty To God.


How 1rue Man and Christian Ia Obliged
to Full Against His Inclinstion Toward
His Duty to God.
High attainment involves persistent
struggle. Persistent struggle demands
compacted character. Compacted char
acter is secured only through pressure
and resistance. No man can gain the
compacted character which enables
him to struggle persistently toward
high attainment, without resistance
Of his personal inclination, and pres
sure against unwelcome obstacles in
his pathway. Inclination would carry
man in the direction of the swift
flowing current; but the brawny arm
and the alert sense Of thu skilled boat
man are acquired in pulling of the oars
in the up tream course. against ones
inclinings. No man has eminent sue
cess in any sphere without doing great
deal of work which he would be inclin-
ed to leave undone; without, in fact,
resisting his inclinations, instead Of
following them.
1t is so easy TO follow ones inclina-
tions, that man is in danger Of losing
all the gain Of struggle. with the con-
sequent growth Of manhood, in his IA
vorite. but unfavoring, pursuit. He
who always studies, or who always
paints, in tho direction of his inclina-
tions, Is not likely TO be a successful
student or a successful artist He will
lack that discipline Of mind and that
mastery Of personal powers which
come through the doing OF what one
ought to do, whether one inclines to do
it or not; and such a lack il fatal to
success. Ease Of writing is rarely the
natural possession Of successful edi-
tor. II hc had had that. he might have
relied on it to his injury. Exceptional
facility Of speech would commonly
stand in the way Of a mans being 0
first-class advocate or preacher, be-
cause of his making 1t a, substitute for
the means of real attainment in his
profession. On the contrary. q firm
purpose of success in the opposite di-
rcction from ones inclinations i'm any
line Of endeavor- in itself an earnest
of some sure attainment, il not indeed
Of high success, in the direction of that
purpose. And so far ones inclinations
are made help to progress through
their resistance, when they would
prove hinderance If they were con-
formed to.
Ones inclination is one thing; ones
preference is quite another thing. An
inclination is n matter of tendency;
preference is matter of choice. A
true mans T. clination is often in one
direction, while his preference is in the
opposite direction. A soldier coming
under fire may be inclined to turn and
run; but a soldier his preference is
to stand at his post, in spite of tho risk.
A loving watcher by a sick bed may
incline to sleep, rnd at the same time
may prefer to keep awake. So in ev-
cry sphere OF life, the inclination may
be against the dictates of wisdom and
of duty; the preference ought always to
be IN accord with those dictates.
What one inclincs to is, indeed, a
minor factor in ones proper preference
for an occupation or profession in
life.
In making ones choice of q life-pur-
suit, the chief question for one to ask
himself is not, What do incline to?
But it is: What ought l to prefer? As
a basis of ones intelligent preference,
three points arc to be considered WISE
ly: Where can best please and honor
my Master? Where can / make the
most Of myself, and attain to the high
est development of n noble personal
characterp Where can ! be of largest
service to my fellows. in view of their
interests for time and eternity? In an
swering these three questions. ones
special Jftness--actual or attainable fit
ness-ought to be taken into considcra-
ton. Ordinarily, it will be found, on
a fair examination of the case by any
child of God who sincerely desires to
know and to do Gods will, that the an
swer to all three questions will point in
ono direction, and that that direction ia
away from ones natural or acquired
inclinations. But when ono's duty is
thus indicated. his deliberate prefer
ence ought to be in the line of that
duty. In spite of the obstacle, or the
hindrance. of his inclinations. IS. s.
Times.
lin ancient days it was considered
crime for subject to appear In his
Kings presence wearing sorrowful
or downcast look; he must appear with
Q satisfied countenance that all who
saw him might honor the King as one
who made his subjects perfectly con-
tented and hsppy-no matter how sor-
rowful his heart might bc, his face must
not show Il. But our Jesus does not
ask VI TO wear bright face and carry
heavy heart. He wants us 10 be 20
unitcd to him that deep undercurrent
Of gladncss shall dow through the soul
constantly. giving the face . look AZ
holy Joy. even In sorrow.---C Ckyiseias
6tesdsrd. sl u. \. u. 81 ~ v,
There y no past % lsng = books
shaat ilvA-DuItssv.